By Our Correspondent
Bhubaneswar:The national anthem “Vande Mataram” will complete 150 years on November 7. It was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875. Singing this song, thousands of freedom fighters went to jail with a smile, some left their studies and jobs to join the freedom struggle, some faced the bullets of the British government with a smile, and some became martyrs by hanging on the gallows.
This national anthem was a song of enthusiasm and inspiration for everyone in the freedom struggle movement. It inspired the countrymen for the Swadeshi movement and independence. But the Congress, succumbing to Muslim oppression, opposed the song “Vande Mataram”, said State Vice President Shri Bishnu Das at a press conference held at the state office.
Shri Das said that in 1923, the Congress felt reluctant to sing this song. Later, the Congress officially decided not to sing this song at various events. After the country became independent, in 1950, the first President Late Rajendra Prasadji gave the status of “Vande Mataram” as the national song. Today, starting from the Kargil War, wherever people protest for the country, they also sing this song by raising the slogan “Vande Mataram”. In order to revive the feeling of love for this country among the youth of the country, the legendary Prime Minister Narendra Modiji has decided to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the national song “Vande Mataram” with a grand ceremony in the Union Cabinet on 1 October 2025.
Both the Central and State Governments have decided to organize this event with enthusiasm. The Bharatiya Janata Party has always given priority to this song. In this regard, the party has also decided to celebrate this song with great pomp and show.
It has been decided to hold the inaugural program of this song at 150 places across the country on the 7th.
It will be organized in 5 major cities of Odisha – Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Balasore, Keonjhar and Rourkela. After that, a program will be organized in each assembly between the 8th and 26th. Shri Das has appealed to the entire public of Odisha, intellectuals, mothers, sisters and students, religious institutions, youth organizations to participate in this and play a major role in nation building by singing the song “Vande Mataram” and reviving the Swadeshi resolve and the feeling of patriotism.
State Media Coordinator Sujit Kumar Das was present at the press conference.
